“I just don’t see the fairness,” Phillips said. “I know Dobbins hit the guy. I understand that. (But) it’s his first offense. If a linebacker gets put out for the season, it’s $10,000 — but it’s $30,000 if the quarterback gets hit.”

Brian Cushing is done until 2013 at the earliest. Cutler might not play Sunday, but he did play the rest of the first half, scrambling for gains of 11 and 19 yards, before tests showed he was concussed, forcing him to leave the game. Phillips went so far as to suggest the real damage might have been done on the runs, although Dobbins clearly struck Cutler higher than the rules allow.

“When did he get a concussion?” Phillips said. “You can’t say he got it (on Dobbins’ blow) for sure. When (the quarterback) is throwing the ball, you have to be careful. You can’t determine if he’s one yard or two yards across the line of scrimmage (Cutler was ruled to have crossed the line, which negated Dobbins’ roughness penalty). I’m not saying the guy shouldn’t be fined. I’m just saying I don’t understand the fine system.

“Because it’s on national TV and the Chicago quarterback got a concussion, now it’s a big fine.”

Other defenders agree
Phillips went on to point out how Texans quarterback Matt Schaub “got hit way worse than that” by the Broncos’ Joe Mays on Sept. 23. Mays was fined $50,000 and suspended for a game.

“(They’re) huge, because a knee injury can put you out for a season,” Urlacher said. “(With) a concussion, you may miss a game or two. Huge difference. I think they shouldn’t allow cut blocks, because our knees are important to us, too. I know concussions are a big deal, but I think cut blocks … seem to be OK with the NFL So they’re not too concerned about safety.”

Phillips said defensive end Antonio Smith continues to have issues with the ankle the Dolphins’ Richie Incognito wrenched when the teams met in the season opener Sept. 9. Interestingly, Incognito was benched Sunday by Miami coach Joe Philbin for drawing an unnecessary-roughness penalty after he ground the face of Titans linebacker Colin McCarthy into the turf. Afterward, McCarthy branded Incognito dirty, just as Smith — and a number of others — had before him.

Smith missed practice Thursday with an unspecified illness and was unavailable to comment on his coach’s rant. But safety Danieal Manning and linebacker Brooks Reed said they understood where Phillips was coming from.

Quarterback’s off limits
“I don’t really understand it — that’s a lot of money,” Reed said, referring to Dobbins’ fine. “It’s almost like Monopoly money. You land on the wrong spot … I’d like to see what the difference is between what (offensive players) have been fined over the last five years compared to defense.”

Added Manning: “They just fine you and take the money before you have a chance (to defend yourself). I think Tim can win (an appeal). You don’t want anything bad to happen to the quarterback, but if he crosses the line (of scrimmage), he’s a runner. Rules are rules. He wasn’t defenseless.

“I don’t think we’re being properly told when and where you can hit people. (NFL officials) come in to talk to us early in the season, but you don’t have time to ask enough questions.”

Concussions, of course, are a hot-button issue, with so many former players suing the NFL for residual damage they claim happened as a result of their careers.

“(The league is) concerned about long-term concussions,” Urlacher said, “but they’re not concerned about your knees or your ankles or anything like that. I think that should be an issue, too.”